Senators questioned the plan of the Presidential Broadcast Staff-Radio Television Malacañang’s (RTVM) plan to buy eight laptops next year worth P2.2-million.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the laptops would be used supposedly for video editing and for the use of the “Davao team,” based on briefing materials submitted to the Senate.
Sotto said he was supposed to let the issue pass since laptops are normally procured by agencies but when his staff computed the cost of one unit, he said he believes it is “worth inquiring now.”
“Based on the cited date, one unit of laptop costs P280,000. Parang mahal (I think that’s expensive),” Sotto said during the budget deliberations on the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) late Monday night.
Sotto said the most expensive laptop, based on their staff’s own research would only cost P190,000.
“Can we get an explanation why the agency will purchase a laptop as expensive as this one and why is it entitled for Davao team use only?” Sotto asked.
Sen. Richard Gordon, who was defending the PCOO budget, said he was told the units are “extremely high end” and intended for “Davao team” use because President Duterte was always in his home province.
Gordon said the PCOO assured that upon “change of administration,” the laptops would be brought back to Malacañang.
“They say it’s an Apple MacBook. I don’t know what’s so spectacular about it,” Gordon said, when Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian asked about the brand of the laptops.